Lantana plant named ‘Baluclem’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Lantana plant named ‘Baluclem’, characterized by its yellow flowers upright mounded habit and dark green foliage.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lantana camara.

Variety denomination: ‘Baluclem’.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct Lantana plant,botanically known as Lantana camara, and hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘Baluclem’.

The new cultivar was developed by the inventor in a controlled breedingprogram during 2000, at Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program was the development of Lantana cultivars with awell-branched, compact habit, continuous flowering and dark greenfoliage.

The new cultivar was the result of the open pollination of the femaleparent Lantana variety ‘Simon Yellow’ (not patented), which iscommercially available, and which exhibits an upright habit and yellowflowers. The new cultivar was selected in December 2000 as a singleflowering plant from within the progeny of the above stated cross andwas initially designated ‘353-4’.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar at Arroyo Grande, Calif. andWest Chicago, Ill. was carried out by the use of terminal stem cuttingshas demonstrated that the the new Lantana reproduces true to type withthe characteristics of the new cultivar as herein described are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of such asexualpropagation.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It was found that the cultivar of the present invention:

(a) exhibits light yellow flowers,

(b) forms dark green foliage, and

(c) exhibits an upright mounded growth habit.

The new cultivar of the present invention can be compared to thecommercially available Lantana variety, Patriot, ‘Honeylove’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 10,011 ‘Robpathon’). In side-by-side comparison, plants of thenew cultivar differ from plants of ‘Honeylove’. It is found that the newcultivar has a more compact habit, longer leaves and slightly smallerflowers of a lighter yellow color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar with one per pot.The plants were grown for 7 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates the overall growth habit of the new cultivar.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up view of 4 individual inflorescence of thenew cultivar, two of them from a side perspective.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length. The chart used in the identification ofcolors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England. The color values were determinedon Apr. 15, 2002. The readings were taken between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.under natural daylight conditions. The plants were produced fromcuttings taken from stock plants and were grown in a doublepolycarbonate covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to thoseused in commercial practice. The plants were grown for 7 weeks whileutilizing a soilless growth medium and maintaining temperatures ofapproximately 75° to 85° F. (24° to 29° C.) during the day andapproximately 62° to 68° F. (17° to 20° C.) during the night and lightlevels of 4,000-10,000 footcandles.

Classification:

Botanical.—Lantana camara cultivar ‘Baluclem’.

Parentage:

Female parent.—‘Simon Yellow’.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal tip.

Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 14 to 21 days.

Root description.—Fibrous, branching.

Plant description:

Habit of growth.—Moderately vigorous with good branching. Pinchingimproves branching. A mature plant, 7 weeks after the planting of arooted cutting, measures approximately 14 cm in height and approximately23.8 cm in width with 3.4 main branches.

Form.—Upright, mounded.

Branch.—Square, approximately 10.7 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter,with short soft dense pubescence. Color is 144A. Internode length atmiddle of stem is approximately 2.4 cm.

Foliage.—Leaves are opposite, ovate with serrate/crenate margin, acuteapex and attenuate base. Upper surface is densely covered with short,stiff hairs. Lower surface is moderately covered with short stiff hairswhile the veins are densely pubescent. Leaf length is approximately 7.1cm and width is approximately 3.7 cm. Upper surface of mature foliage is137A and lower surface is 137C. Upper and lower surfaces havepinnate-reticulate venation. Color of venation on upper surface is 144C.Color of venation on lower surface is 145C. Petiole surface ismoderately pubescent, length is approximately 8 mm, diameter isapproximately 1 mm and color is 145C.

Flowering description:

Flowering habit.—Freely flowering.

Natural flowering season.—Year round in greenhouse environment andspring through autumn in outdoor garden.

Inflorescence description:

Shape.—Spherical.

Size.—Approximately 2.7 cm in depth and approximately 4.3 cm in diameterwith approximately 42 fully open flowers at any one time. Each flower issubtended by a single bract. Flowers are sessile.

Bract.—Shape: Lanceolate. Length: Approximately 1 cm. Width:Approximately 3 mm. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Both surfacesand the margin are slightly pubescent. Upper surface is 137A; Lowersurface is 137B.

Peduncle.—Shape: Rectangular. Length: Approximately 5.4 cm. Diameter:Approximately 1 mm. Color: Closest to 144A.

Flower description:

Fragrance.—Lemon.

Lastingness of bloom.—Approximately 6-9 days.

Aspect.—Cupped.

Bud.—Square, pillow shaped, approximately 5 mm in width and 3 mm indepth and 11B in color.

Petals.—Five, fused at base forming corolla tube. Petals arenon-overlapping and non-symmetrical. Upper petal: Shape: Obovate. Apex:Broadly acute. Margin: Entire, undulate. Length from throat:Approximately 5 mm. Width: Approximately 8 mm. Lateral petals: Shape:Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire, undulate. Length from throat:Approximately 3 mm. Width: Approximately 5 mm. Lower petals: Shape:Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire, undulate. Length from throat:Approximately 3 mm. Width: Approximately 6 mm.

Corolla.—Diameter is approximately 1.2 cm. Petal color when fully open:Upper surface is 10B at margin and center; 23A around tube opening.Lower surface is 8D. Upper and lower surfaces of petals are smooth.

Corolla tube.—Length is approximately 1.2 cm, diameter at tube openingis approximately 1.3 mm and diameter at base is approximately 1 mm.Pubescence of outer surface is dense. Color of inner surface is 16C onproximal ½ and 23B on distil ½. Color of outer surface is 22B.

Calyx.—Tubular, formed by 5 fused sepals with acute tips. Length:Approximately 3 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1 mm. Color of both upperand lower surface: 150C.

Reproductive organs.—There are 4 stamens fused to the corolla tube. Theanther length is less than 1 mm and the color is 164C. Pollen ismoderate and 1D in color. There is one pistil, 5 mm in length. Thestigma length is less than 1 mm and the color is 145B. The style lengthis approximately 3 mm and the color is 8C. Ovary length is approximately1 mm and color is 144C.

Seed/fruit production: Seed/fruit production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens has not been observed.

Hardiness zone: ‘Baluclem’ is hardy in zones nine (9) and above.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana camera plant named‘Baluclem’ substantially as herein shown and described, which: (a)exhibits light yellow flowers, (b) forms dark green foliage, and (c)exhibits an upright mounded growth habit.